Attendance / Absence

We believe that children need to be in school every day, on time, for all sessions, so that they can make the best progress possible. To do this it is essential that a child’s time at school is maximised and even short absences can have a detrimental effect on children’s learning. Any pupil’s absence or late arrival disrupts teaching routines, so, in addition to affecting your own child, it may also affect the learning of others in the same class. Early poor attendance habits follow right through from primary to secondary school and into employment.

We expect all children to be at school, on time, each and every day that school is open, along as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. We do all we can to encourage children to attend.

In our school, we believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is the development of positive attitudes towards school. To this end, we strive to make our school a happy and rewarding experience for all children. We will reward those children whose attendance is very good. We will also make the best provision we can for those children who, for whatever reason, are prevented from coming to school.

Every half-day absence has to be classified by the School, (not by the parents), as either AUTHORISED or UNAUTHORISED. Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from the School for a good reason like illness or other unavoidable cause. Unauthorised absences are those which the School does not consider reasonable and for which no ‘leave’ has been given. This includes:

– Parents keeping children off unnecessarily, eg. shopping trips
– Truancy before or during the School day
– Absences which have never been properly explained
– Children who arrive at the School too late to get a mark

Appointments of any kind, such as a doctor’s or dentist appointment, should be arranged outside of School hours where possible. If this is unavoidable, please let the School office know and this will be authorised.

School Closure

School closures will be announced as soon as the information has been verified and become available via the following methods:

Facebook
ParentPay
School website
Local radio

Should your child be absent through illness, please contact the school office as soon as possible and on every subsequent day of absence.

From 1 September 2013, the rules for taking time off in term time were changed. Headteachers are no longer permitted to authorise absence for holidays taken during term time.  They are permitted to grant leave only in exceptional circumstances. Bournebrook does not authorise holidays in term time, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Please click here to see Leave of Absence Information.